The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-04-16

Smith-not that the surname surprised
him, as he delivered quantities OF Smith
matter every month, but the c. h. were
Celia's own initials, which certainly was q
little strange He ran up the steps of Q
handsome house and though in hurry,
stopped an instant to watch man-servant
within, who could be plainly seen through
the lace-hung windows as he lighted the
chandelier in an elegant drawlng-room,
when, to his utter surprise, an inner door
opened to admit a lady-the very lady whom
he had upset that morningl Excited and
laughing at the recollection, he rang the
bell, and, as the man promptly appeared,
handed the envelope, as he supposed, and
ran down the steps.
$50 that's Miss C. H. Smith ~ he said, as
he hailed car. II thought she was an old
maid when tipped her over this morning.
Funny how things happen in this worldi
must tell Celia"
Feeling for the valentine, which had been
tucked in the same pocket with Miss Smiths
communication, he was soon carrying out all
plans to perfection-dropping it upon the
step and running to a hiding place after q
violent ring at the bell-not so far, either
but that he saw the door opened and heard
cry Of surprise, which he recognized as
Celia's. Waiting moment, he came in, with
a great deal of buster over the cold and
snow.
80 Jamie, the queerest thing I" cried Celia
meeting him ct the door, her eyes wildly
bright and bit Of paper waving in her
hand someone rang the door-bell and left
this on the doorstep, addressed to me-'Miss
C. h. Smith'-as grownupli like as you please |
OF course / thought twas a valentine, SO
opened it, and what do you thinki There
was q queer, printed slip Of paper telling
the national bank to pay me 81, 5OO-did you
ever hear of such q thingr'
'Mercyr' cried Jamie, ''struck all Of q
heap" as ne afterward expressed it, and
catching the draft from her hand. 1--WE
made mistakel 'Tain't yours. Gracious!
they may be after me with the officers for
this. How could be so carelessr'
There was nothing to do now but let out
the whole secret and explain the mistake.
"And to think I've left that sour old maid
your pretty valentine and takeu her money
after knocking her down on the street,
too. o dear! its too funnyi" and over
wrought Jamie burst into peal Of laugh
ter: then checked himself to add soberly:
''But it may be more fun than I'd like il she
finds out and sends the officers after me be-
fore can get backi"
jamie swung SO rapidly from laughter to
dread that Celia wGs quite bewildered, but
when she did fully understand, her terror
was greater than his.
20, hurry, jamie, hurry and take it back
to herp' she cried, almost pushing him into
the street. "In keep your supper warm,
but do--do 60 at oncep and, grumbling at
his own stupidity, he obeyed.
o1xsv 90
utes later, he was conducted to coy apart
ment back of the drawing-room he had seen,
and before the servant could speak, after
lifting the portiere, had an instant's glimpse
Of that lady, with tear-bedimmed eyes, sit
ting before the tiled fire place, the lost val
entiue in her hand. She turned impatiently,
'sWell, joint" and, as Jamie blunderingly
explained matters, looked from him to the
valentine and back again with puzzled
and-could it be-even disappointed look
upon her face. 1t wasn't possible that she
would rather have that bit Of perfumed.
perforated paper, with its lines about
''roses" and ''posies'' and ''loves'' and
''doves," than draft for 81 zoo, but it GER
tainly looked so!
Her face did not, however, retain its
sourest look as she asked: aren't you the
| boy who ran into me this morningl"
| "Yes, ma'am," acknowledged jamie, smi-
! ling in spite of himself.
"And now want to rob mel" she said,
| scowling at him, but not so ferociously that
| he failed to note a suspicious CLEAN in her
| eyes. $50 your name is Smith" she con-
tinued, not giving him time to answer, ''and
your sister has my initials. What is her
given name and voursl"
"Hers is Celia Herbert, ma'arn, and mine
is James Gay. Twas named for my fath--''
"What" she turned upon HIM so suddenly
that the boy reiterated a step in dismay.
cecilia Herbert, James Gay-my name and
hiss" and dropping into q chair she gazed
at Jamie with eyes that seemed to burn in
her pale face, SO piercing and bright they
were. She motioned Jamie to q chair, and,
as the man stepped forward to place it,
turned upon him fiercely.
'John, what are you waiting fors Cop
and John promptly disappeared.
Then followed rapid questions and dazed
answers, for how could this lady know
enough to ask:
"Where is your fatherl Is he tall, with
brown eyes and mustachel Does his hair
curll Has he tiny mole on the left side of
his nosea Are his eyebrows straight and
heavy! Is his hand large and strong-and
does he' (here her eyes seemed to look
straight into Jamie's souD ''does he wear a
narrow, chased ring on his left little
fngerl'
'He-he did, ma'am, but"
"But what!'
"He is dead" Jamie's tone was low and
reverent, but the lady gasped at his words
"And your motheri" she whispered.
Eyes, ma'am--she, too. Celia and l are
all alone.''
She arose and tremblingly took Jamie's
hand in hers, whilehe was surprised to see
how softened her face seemed.
"James, this is a strange thing. My name
is Celia Herbert Smith and James Gay
Smith, your father, was my cousin, the
dearest one l had. We quarreled, and he
drifted away-I never knew just what be-
came Of him-and to find his children thus
Yes, yesp she unused, gazing into his face
with PARKWAY eyes, ssit is his very look-so